Bringing an extinct musical tradition to big screen

Humayun Ahmed is perhaps the most celebrated contemporary Bangladeshi fiction writer. His immense contribution to the Bangladeshi literature over the last three decades has earned him international acclaim as well. The author has explored the film industry and TV as a director as well. His first film, “Aguner Parashmoni”, based on the Liberation War, received critical acclaim and won eight National Film Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
The Daily Star (TDS) recently caught up with Ahmed to find out his plans for the upcoming Eid. Excerpts from the conversation:
TDS: How many plays are you planning to direct this Eid?
Ahmed: I cannot say for sure, but two plays -- “Noshto Bashor” and “Shada Bari” -- are complete. “Noshto Bashor” is a story of a single night, while “Shada Bari” conveys a message, which should encourage people to pay taxes.
TDS: Who are the cast and crew for the plays?
Ahmed: “Noshto Bashor” features Jayanto Chattopadhyay, Tomalika Karmakar, Naznin Naz and Masud Akhand. Asaduzzaman Noor, Faruk

National Mourning Day observed

On the occasion of National Mourning Day, Bangla Academy held a discussion at its seminar hall on August 15. Noted scholar and essayist Dr. Feroz Mahmud read out an essay, titled “Bangladesh-er Shadhinota Ghoshona”.
Shamsuzzaman Khan, Director General of Bangla Academy, delivered the welcome speech at the programme. Scholar ATM Nurur Rahman Khan; Mofidul Haque, publisher and trustee of Liberation War Museum; Muhammad Samad, poet and Professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka, were present as discussants. The first phase of the programme was presided over by National Professor Kabir Chowdhury.
The second phase featured reading out of stories on the Liberation War, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and patriotism. Noted theatre personality Ramendu Majumdar; TV personality Pijush Bandyopadhyay; poet Kazi Rozi, writer Baby Moudud and Professor ANM Faruque took part in this session. Sheikh Hafizur Rahman, secretary of Bangabandhu Memorial Trust, presided over the programme. The programme was directed by Subhash Singh Roy.

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Quamrul Islam Rubaiyat, Thakurgaon
A painting competition for school students was held last Sunday morning to mark the National Mourning Day at Thakurgaon Zila Parishad auditorium. Thakurgaon Shishu Academy, with the assistance of district administration, organised the event.
About 100 children from different educational institutions took part in five groups at the competitions.
The topics of the competition were 'National Flag' for 'Ka' group; 'Rural Landscape' for 'Kha' group; 'National Memorial' for 'Ga' group; 'The Liberation War' for 'Gha' group and 'Bangabandhu and Bangladesh' for 'Umo' group. Judges selected fifteen children for awards.
Later Hamd and Naat competitions were also held at the venue for children, in two groups. Judges selected six children for awards at the competitions.
After the competition, a discussion was held at Thakurgaon Shilpakala Academy auditorium on the 35th death anniversary of Bangabandhu.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Thakurgaon Muhammad Shahiduzzaman presided over the meeting. Acting President of Thakurgaon District Awami League, Advocate Mokbul Babu and Superintendent of Police, BM Harun-ur Rashid, attended the discussion as special guests.
The speakers said that after 35 years of killing Bangabandhu and most of his family members, the nation can now mourn without stigma. They also hoped that six other condemned killers absconding abroad would be brought back to complete implementation of the court verdict.
After the discussion, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Shahiduzzaman handed prizes among the winners of the competitions.
On the occasion, Eco Pathshala also arranged art and essay competitions at its school premises in the town.
Other educational institutions, including Thakurgaon Government Boys' High School and Thakurgaon Government Girls' High School also organised similar programmes to mark the day.

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Hossain Seraj, Magura
To mark the 35th death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Magura Shishu Academy organised a painting and essay writing contest for children at the Sayed Ator Ali Public Library auditorium in Magura town on August 15.
Seventy seven participants took part in the painting competition on the theme 'Liberation War', while 54

Anika: A young dancer on the rise

Kathak, one of the eight forms of Indian classical dance, originated in North India. The term “kathak” is derived from the Sanskrit word “katha,” meaning story and “kathaka” means she who tells a story.
Bangladesh has quite a few accomplished Kathak dancers to boast of and young dancers such as Tahmina Anwar Anika are seemingly treading the right track to greatness.
The 18-year-old Anika began learning the ropes of dance at the age of three. Trained initially by Munmun Ahmed, she began taking lessons from gurus Pandit Krishan Mohan Misra and Pandit Belayet Hossain Khan. “I didn't know any other dance form when I was a kid. There was this annual function and I was not selected, as I wasn't learning dance officially. Shortly after that, I started training under my gurus.”
Anika gave her first performance at the age of five. She won several contests, including a national competition organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. These were hard won achievements. The young dancer says that she had to struggle a great deal to qualify for what she has achieved so far and looks forward to further accomplishments in future.
A tough challenge, she says is combining dance with academics. She would like to major in both science and dance. When asked if she has any plan on the dance front other than enhancing her knowledge in it, she says with a captivating smile “Yes, I definitely do.
“Although I don't want to be a teacher, I want to work with dance. I want to break the tradition of following the same old poses and postures taught by our teachers. I want to gain enough knowledge in dance first, and then work on it and generate awareness in the

Versatility personified: Azizul Hakim

If versatility could be personified, it would surely take the form of Azizul Hakim, who has left his imprint in all media -- starting from theatre, radio and moving on to television and eventually the silver screen.
However, with the rolling sands of time, he has stayed put in the world of television, proving his skills in countless TV plays and serials.
Many of his contemporaries have failed the test of time, while new blood has replaced them in the never-ending rotation of media talent. But Hakim has maintained a steady pace.
With his unique acting skills, (BD Media) Hakim paired up with contemporary actresses like Shomi Kaiser, Bipasha Hayat, Afsana Mimi as well as younger ones, such as Meem. On his success, the actor says that every individual endures ups and downs and artistes are no exception.
Hakim attributes his continued success in the media to his determination, hard work and luck. The humble actor does not forget to thank his wife, Zeenat Hakim,(BD Media) for being his muse throughout his career, while adding that he is content with what life has offered him.
Hakim has had a long association with theatre group Aranyak. He acted in popular plays of the troupe, such as “Ora Kodom Ali”, “Iblish”, “Guinea Pig”, “Agunmukha”, “Khela Khela”, “Pathor” and “Manush”.
His attributes his absence from the theatre to his busy schedule, and laments not being able to test his skills on the stage anymore. Theatre marked his beginning, and it is the stage that continues to draw him. Azizul Hakim however asserts that it is impossible to maintain complete integrity if one intends to work in both television and theatre. It is not reasonable, he adds, to seek some time off from TV and be involved with the theatre on a daily basis. Pointing this out as one of the main impediments of his career in theatre, Hakim expresses his aspiration to return to Aranyak productions in the future.
The versatile actor has tested his hands at direction as well. He has directed two TV plays in the UK, while his latest directorial work was in the serial “Shey Amaye Bhalobashey Na”. (BD Media) Although acting is his first priority, Hakim says directing TV plays is like an addiction, which explains his plan to direct another mega serial, the

A full calendar for actress Prova

Popular actress and TVC model Prova and her beau Rajib were engaged on April 16 this year. After the engagement, both the families are readying for a grand wedding, to be held later this year.
Expressing excitement over her approaching wedding, Prova said the date has been fixed for December 17. She is now keeping her fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly at the nuptials. (BD Media News)
As she counts the days on the calendar, Prova remains busy with TV plays for the coming Eid. She pointed out that as many as 20 plays are on the table for this joyous festival, and work on many of them is complete. Chayanika Chowdhury will direct eight of Prova's TV plays, including “Rupa”, “Papri Tomar Jonno”, “Jara Brishtite Bhijechilo”, “Opekkha”, “Dekha Holo Bhalobasha Bedonaye” and “Porosh pathor”. Work on Ripon Nobi's “Honeymoon Porbo” is complete as also Kaisar Ahmed's two plays, “Imrul Gazir Shopno” and “Malka Banur Monu Miah”. (BD Media News)
Prova said she is working in three so far untitled Ferdous Hasan productions. She has acted in Ashrafi Mithu's play. Shooting for Salahuddin Lavlu's “Service holder” is over, while another of his Eid plays will be shot during Ramadan. Prova is also set to work for an ETV in house production and an SA Haq Alik will be shot by the month's end. (BD Media News)
Prova is also currently working in many serials, including a Ferdous Hasan production “Khunshuti”, which is being aired on ntv. Banglavision is airing a Masud Shezan production “Patigonit”, featuring Prova. The talented actress said due to pressure from her studies, she can only select a few plays before she graduates.
Meanwhile, Prova is also preparing to play the lead role in the new Arun Chowdhury serial “Rumali”, which is an adaptation of a Humayun Ahmed novel of the same title. The role came to Prova, after Nova -- who was set to play Rumali -- fell ill. On her upcoming challenge, Prova said she read the novel a long time ago, without knowing that one day she will play the title role in a TV serial, and the opportunity comes as a thrill to her. (BD Media News)

Those were the days

I was born on May 8, 1947, in my maternal village of Belur Chok in Murshidabad. I have a few memories of Rajshahi PN Girls High School, as it was my first school and I did my matriculation from there.
My paternal aunt held my hand when I first entered a classroom, while my father and uncle were waiting for me in the office. I felt no fear, as my mother had prepared me for my school days. According to her, school was a place to make friends, play and have tasty snacks. She even bought me a new dress, fed me sweets and put tasty snacks in my schoolbag on the first day of school.
I was very restless when I was little, with more male friends than female ones. Playing hadudu, danguli and marbles with the guys and stealing flowers with girls from the colony where we lived, were my favourite pastimes. Guavas were also on our list of things to steal. With the stolen flowers, we all would make garlands and put them on the classroom table. Seeing our efforts, our teacher always had a smile.
I was not an expert flower thief, as I was caught several times trying to steal roses and guavas. People always told of me to my mother, who would always say that no matter how small or large the prize was, stealing would remain stealing. While she was busy forbidding me to steal, I was busy forgetting her advice and preparing for my next adventure.
Hadudu and Chhi Buri were the most popular sports which we played in the school grounds. But the teachers would always tell us to stop disturbing the ongoing classes. So instead we would come indoors to start a new round of carom.
I was a movie fanatic when I was young. Watching films with friends at the Kolpona cinema hall, now named Utshob, was our favourite pastime. We watched Pakistani movies and never missed the chance to watch a movie starring Uttam-Suchitra. My family forbade me to do all these, as I was only a student of class nine, but to their dismay I would always drop my books at house just after school break, and run to the Kolpona hall. My grandma would joke about it and tell me to become a guard at the movie hall so that I could both earn a living and enjoy movies at the same time.
The biggest crisis of my childhood was during exams. The list of things-not-to-do during the exam season included watching films, reading storybooks, listening to radio plays. But no restriction could stop me from turning down the volume to secretly listen to plays by Kolkata Radio.
Growing up in a joint family meant fun all around,

Ramadan reflections

A solo photography exhibition of German photographer Christel Becker-Rau ,titled “Ramadan Reflections” , is on at Goethe Institute, Dhanmondi. Rau was born in 1948 in Germany. She studied photography and visual communication in Cologne and Essen in Germany. At the exhibition, 58 images depict the cultural diversity of Ramadan in different countries of the Middle East such as Egypt , Jordan and Palestine. She is particularly adept in utilising natural light to create pleasing photographs of her subjects. Her images are very vivid and simple, but thought provoking.
Lt. Gen. Nooruddin Khan PSC, President of Institute of Hazrat Mohammad (SAW) was present as chief guest at the inauguration on August 12. Italian Catholic Father Mimmo Pietanza, chief in charge of the Xaverian Congregation in Bangladesh, Father Benjamin Gomez, Catholic Church Mymensingh were present as guests.
One of her photos depicts tiny boys selling lettuce for Iftar on a street market. The photo has been taken in Palestine.
Another picture portrays a busy life. Everybody has the same goal: to get home in time and enjoy breaking the fast with the family. The photo has been taken in Jerusalem. Light is the predominant aspect in the image.
One of her image has a different focus. The crescent of the new moon can be seen and the Islamic Scholar announces the beginning of Ramadan which was awaited with enthusiasm and impatience.
A Cairo night is very special for its citizens. During the Ramadan, the city is immersed in festivity. People gather here and there. Evening feasts, family celebrations and mutual visits after sunset make Ramadan nights an exhausting yet unique experience.
Some of her images depict people enjoying iftar in different streets of Jordan, the daily chaos in the streets, the traffic jams, shortly before the fast breaking, when everybody tries to get home as quickly as possible.
One of her images show at dawn the whole city gathers in overcrowded mosques and under the open sky in order to offer prayers together.
Another image shows family visitors in countryside areas in Cairo. In this photograph she has captured the unique beauty of nature.
The photographer also